Premier Rodney Macdonald makes his opening speech at the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative annual general meeting in Halifax on Friday evening. Photo: Greg Weston
Infrastructure funding could be tied to alumni donations -- province
Premier might look towards other sources to help pay for upgrades
(0)Premier Rodney Macdonald suggested the Nova Scotia government may not be the only other source for additional post-secondary infrastructure funding following the federal budget.
At the Progressive Conservative annual general meeting this past weekend, the premier said the province needs to consult with the federal government to determine what Ottawa expects from the provinces in return for infrastructure funding.
The Jan. 27 federal budget allocated $2 billion for infrastructure projects at Canadian university and colleges. It stated the federal government would pay for up to half of each project, with the remaining funds coming from "other partners."
Provincial governments are likely to be one of those partners, as education falls under their jurisdiction.
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Nova Scotia Education Minister Judy Streatch speaks at the Young Progressive Conservative annual meeting Saturday afternoon. Photo: Greg Weston
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"We're strongly committed to university infrastructure funding," Macdonald said. "We hope to take advantage of the dollars which are available through the federal budget to see much-needed infrastructure across the province upgraded."
"We still have to sit down with the federal government to discuss whether that other 50 per cent has to be totally provincial, or is it a combination of university funding, private sector and government?"
Alumni and private-sector donations would ease provincial pressure
Judy Streatch, Nova Scotia minister of education, echoed the premier's comments.
"Does it have to be the provincial government who puts the other 50 per cent in?" she asked.
"There's still a question as to whether the universities could find that money somewhere else. Some universities are wondering if, for example, alumni funding or third-party funding, would that qualify as the other 50 per cent?"
Gillian Wood, assistant vice-president of government relations at Dalhousie University, said she isn't surprised the province is investigating other ways to match the federal allotment. But she says getting the province to provide matching funds will be difficult.
"It's just great for the federal government to come out with programs. But if the assumption is we have to match it ... in our province, that's not that easy," she said. "Would we want the provincial government to participate? Absolutely, of course we would."
Wood said universities may only be able to raise a limited amount for deferred maintenance projects through alumni and private-sector donations.
"The donor question is a little bit trickier, because if the funds are only for maintenance and repairs, you don't find donors for maintenance and repairs. So I wouldn't be too terribly optimistic about that happening," she said, adding that the short two-year project limit set by the federal budget does not provide much time for universities and colleges to organize fundraising campaigns.
"I just don't know how it would happen, particularly in these economic times. You're trying to tap into alumni who maybe have lost their jobs. They're probably not too keen on doing that at this time."
‘I can assure you we're not putting a budget out in June'
The federal budget stated that Ottawa would give priority to infrastructure projects that "can improve the quality of research and development at the institution." Streatch said discussions with the federal government are needed to determine whether deferred maintenance issues meet that criteria.
"We haven't figured out whether all of our university challenges would qualify," she said. "My challenge to the federal government, if it turns out those wouldn't qualify, would be how can you do R&D at a university if the walls are falling down?"
The premier did not indicate when the two levels of government might reach a decision on post-secondary infrastructure spending or when the province would unveil its budget.
"I've heard people suggesting somehow we're putting a budget out in June. I can assure you we're not putting a budget out in June. That's simply too late," he said.
Streatch recognized the urgency of the situation, but would not set a specific deadline for an announcement.
"There's no solid date right now. We're working every day as fast as we can because we know these are projects that must move," she said. "As soon as we can, we will. I would anticipate it would be within the next few weeks."
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